Electric train-line coupling.



T. R. BROWN.

ELECTRIC TRAIN LINE COUPLING APPLICATION HLED JULY. 14.19.

1,244,950. Patented M30, 1917.

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Wm J MM ATTO V T. R. BROWN.

ELECTRIC TRAIN LINE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14. 1914.

-- Patented Oct. 30,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WITNESSES mfiwa A TTOR/V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS R. BROWN, OF SPARKILL, NEW YORK, ASSIGNGR TO THE WESTINGHOUSE AIRBRAKE COMPANY, OF WILMEBDING, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OFPENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC TRAIN-LINE COUPLING.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS R. BROWN, a cltizen of the United States, anda resident of Sparkill, in the county of Rockland and State of New York,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in ElectricTrain-Line Couplings, of which i1n provement the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to means for coupling electric circuits betweenthe cars of a train, and more particularly to that type of electriccouplings in which each counterpart coupler is provided with a pluralityof fixed. contacts, and a movable contact carrier having correspondingcontact bars, and adapted to be projected outward so as to extend intothe counterpart coupling of the adjacent vehicle, and establishelectrical connection for the respective circuits through the train.

In my prior Patent No.-1,190,509, dated July 11, 1916, there is shown anelectric coupling of this character in which electric means, such as asolenoid, is employed for projecting the contact carrier to establishthe electrical connections, and one of the objects of my presentinvention is to also provide electrically operated means for retractingthe contact carriers and returning same to normal release position whenit is desired to separate the couplings and un couple the cars. Anotherobject is to provide an improved tappet mechanism operatingautomatically upon the coming together of the counterpart couplings toeffect the projection of the contact carrier. These and other novelfeatures will be hereinafter more-fully described, and set forth in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic section,showing a pair of counterpart couplings, embodying one form of myimprovement, the parts being in coupled position; and Fig. 2, a verticallongitudinal section of one of said couplings with the parts in thenormal release or uncoupled position.

As shown in the drawings, my improved construction may comprise acasing, 1, containing a plurality of contact fingers, 8, connected bysuitable wires to the respective train line circuits, and a movablecontact carrier, 7, having corresponding contact bars, 8, adapted toelectrically connect the corresponding contact fingers of the coun-Specification of Letters Patent.

terpart couplers when projected to their outer or coupled position. Anelectromagnet device or solenoid, comprising a coil, 3, and a core, 12,secured to the carrier, 7, is employed for projecting the carrier in amanner similar to that set forth in my prior patent above referred to.

For the purpose of withdrawing or releasing the carrier, 1 now providean electro magnet device comprising a coil, 13, and a core or plunger,11, having a sliding connection with the core, 12, with a certain amountof lost motion between said parts, whereby the core, 12, may have ashort movement relative to the core, 11, but said parts are also adaptedto move together at certain times. When the parts are in the normalrelease or uncoupled position, the carrier is retracted within thecasing, and the cores occupy their inner positions, as indicated in Fig.2. Any suitable form of manually operated switch mechanism may beemployed for energizing the opening coil, 3, for projecting the carrier,and for energizing the closing coil, 13, for retracting the same, butaccording to one of the features of my invention, I provide an improvedtappet device operated automatically by the coming together of thecounterpart couplings to effect the projection of one of said contactcarriers. For this purpose a tappet, 20, having a spring, 21, is mountedin each coupler casing, and normally projects outward a certain distancebeyond the face of the coupling, as shown in Fig. 2. In this position, adetent, 25, actuated by spring, 26, engages in a groove formed in theside of the tappet, and tends to prevent the tappet from being pushedinward.

When the counterpart couplers are brought together in coupling, thetappets, 20, engage each other, and each tends to force the otherinward. One of the detents, 25, will always yield before the other, andas soon as the resistance of one of the detents is overcome, thecorresponding tappe-t is immediately pushed inward by the other tappetwhich does not yield, thereby compressing the spring, 21, and operatingthe switch mechanism, as indicated in Fig. 1. Such switch devices maycomprise contacts, 2-1 and 29, located in the circuit of the openingcoil, 3, and a contact bar, 22, carried by the tappet, for closing saidcircuit. Another contact bar, 28, is so located as to Patented Oct. 30,1917.

Application filed July 14, 1914. Serial No. 850,989.

connect the contacts, 27, and close a circuit from one coupler to theother. The tappet may also be provided with an insulation strip, 23, forengaging contacts, 2% and 29, when the tappet is in its outer position.

When the coil, 3, is thus energized, the core, 12, is thrown outwardthereby projecting the contact carrier into the counterpart couplingwhere it engages the other carrier and forces the same back to thecoupled position indicated in Fig. 1, in which the contact bars, 8, (seeFig. 2), establish electrical connections between the correspondingcontact lingers, 10, of the counterpart couplers. During this movement,the core, 12, of the projected carrier pulls the core, 11, along to itsouter position, while the core, 12, of the counterpart coupler movesinward through the lost motion connection relative to the core, 11.

In order that the current supply to the solenoid coil, 3, may beautomatically cut off after the carrier has been thrown, switchcontacts, 32 and 33, are located in said circuit, and the switch bar,31, which normally connects said contacts, is operated by the movementof the carrier to disconnect the same and open the circuit when thecarrier is projected to its outer or closed po sition. The contact bar,31, is of suliicient length to remain in engagement with contacts, 32and 33, during the preliminary movement of the carrier so that themomentum of the same is sufficient to carry the core and its connectedslide to the extreme outer position after the circuit is opened. Aspring actuated switch 19, may also be located in the circuit to thecoil, 3, and operated by a coil, 18, in the circuit of the release oropening coil, 13, controlled by the release switch, 30. A springactuated locking device, 15, is provided for holding the core orplunger, 11, in its outer position, a coil, 14, in the release circuitbeing employed for unlocking said device. As the slide or carrier, 7, ofone of the couplings is pushed inward from its normal position by thecarrier of the other counterpart coupling, when the same is projected,means should be provided for returning said carrier to its normalposition when the projected carrier is retracted at the time ofreleasing, and for this purpose, I provide an electromagnet, 16, havinga coil, 17, located in the releasing circuit.

lVhen it is desired to release and separate the couplings, the releaseswitch, 30, on either one of the counterpart couplings may be thrown toits closed or dotted line position. If the switch on the coupling havingthe projected carrier is the one that is thrown, the current flowsdirectly through the release circuit of said coupling includ ing thecoils, 17, 18, 13 and 14. The current also flows by way of the contacts,27 and 28,

2 on the tappet, 20, through the release circuit of the counterpartcoupler. The coil, 18, is thus energized to open the switch, 19, andprevent the flow of current to closing coil, 3, even when the contacts,32 and 33, are connected by the bar, 31. The unlocking coil, 14, is alsoenergized to withdraw the lock, 15, and permit the opening coil, 13, toretract the plunger, 11, with core, 12, and carrier, 7, to its normalposition. During this movement the magnet, 16, is energized and drawsthe slide, 7, and core, 12, of the counterpart coupling along with it tothe release position, the lost motion between the core, 12, and plunger,11,, of the counterpart coupling permits this movement, while theplunger, 1.1, therein, remains at its inner position with reference toits coil, 13. \Vhen the slides are thus returned to the normal open orrelease position, the couplers may be released, and the cars separatedin the usual manner. As the counterpart couplings are pulled apart, thetappet, 20, which had been forced inward, is returned to its outerposition, by means of its spring, 21, and the detent, 27, again engagesits groove. The release switch being turned to its full line position,the coils are deenergized, and the switch, 19, closes the circuit to theclosing coil, 3, whereby the same may be energized as controlled by thetappets, when the couplers are again brought together for coupling.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electric train line coupling, the comblnation of a casinghaving a plurality of contacts connected to the respective circuits, amovable contact carrier provided with corresponding contacts, means forprojecting said carrier to electrically connect the respective contactsof counterpart couplings, and electrically operated means for retractingsaid contact carrier.

2. In an electric train line coupling, the combination of a casinghaving a plurality of contacts connected to the respective circuits, amovable contact carrier provided with corresponding contacts, andelectrically operated mechanism for projecting said carrier toelectrically connect the respective contacts of counterpart couplingsand for retracting said carrier.

3. In an electric train line coupling, the combination of a casinghaving a plurality of contacts connected to the respective cir-' cuits,a movable contact carrier provided with corresponding contacts, asolenoid havmg a plunger for projecting said carrier, and anothersolenoid provided with a core having a sliding connection with saidplunger for retracting said carrier.

4. 1n an electric train line coupling, the comblnatlon of acasing havinga plurality of contacts connected to the respective circuits, a movablecontact carrier provided with corresponding contacts, means forprojecting said carrier to move back the corresponding carrier of thecounterpart coupling and electrically connect the correspondingcontacts, electrically operated mechanism for retracting said carrier,and

electromagnetic means for holding said carriers together during saidreturn movement.

5. In an electric train line coupling, the combination of a casinghaving a plurality of contacts connected to the respective circuits, amovable contact carrier provided with corresponding contacts, means forprojecting said carrier to electrically connect the respective contactsof counterpart couplings, a solenoid having a plunger for retractingsaid carrier, and an electrically operated locking device for saidplunger.

6. In an electric train line coupling, the combination of a casinghaving a plurality of contacts connected to the respective circuits, amovable contact carrier provided with corresponding contacts,electrically operated means for projecting said carrier, and

' switch mechanism controlled by the movement of said carrier foropening the circuit of said projecting means 7 In an electric train linecoupling, the combination of a casing having a plurality of contactsconnected to the respective circuits, a movable contact carrier providedwith corresponding contacts, a closing coil for projecting said carrier,an opening coil for retracting said carrier, and electromagnetic meansin the retracting coil circuit for controlling the circuit to theclosing coil.

8. In an electric train line coupling, the combination of a casinghaving a plurality of contacts connected to the respective circuits, amovable contact carrier provided with corresponding contacts, a yieldingtappet extending from said casing and adapted to engage thecorresponding tappet of a counterpart coupling, a detent engaging saidtappet, and tending to prevent a yielding movement of the same, andmeans controlled by the movement of said tappet for automaticallyprojecting said carrier.

9. In an electric train line coupling, the combination of a casinghaving a plurality of contacts connected to the respective circuits, amovable contact carrier provided with corresponding contacts, anelectric solenoid for projecting said carrier, a yielding tappet mountedin said casing and adapted to engage the corresponding tappet of acounterpart coupler, and switch mechanism operated by the movement ofone of the tappets for controlling said solenoid.

10. In an electric train line coupling, the combination of a casinghaving a plurality of contacts connected to the respective circuits, amovable contact carrier provided with corresponding contacts,electrically operated mechanism for projecting said carrier, toelectrically connect the respective contacts of counterpart couplings,and means operated automatically by the coming together of saidcouplings for controlling said mechanism.

11. In an electric train line coupling, the combination of a casinghaving a plurality of contacts connected to the respective circuits, amovable contact carrier provided with corresponding contacts, means forprojecting said carrier to electrically connect the respective contactsof counterpart couplings, an opening coil for releasing said carrier,release switch for controlling the circuit to said coil, and contactsfor connecting said release circuits between tl e counterpart couplerswhereby the contact carrier may be released by the release switch uponeither car.

12. In an electric train line coupling, the combination of a casinghaving a plurality of contacts connected to the respective circuits, amovable contact carrier provided with corresponding contacts, a closingcoil for projecting said carrier, a yielding tappet, adapted to engage acorresponding tappet of a counterpart coupling, switch mechanismoperated by the yielding movement of one of said tappets for energizingsaid coil, a releasing coil for retracting the carrier, a release switchtherefor, and contact means mounted on said tappets for connecting therelease circuits of the counterpart couplers.

THOMAS R. BROWN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0.

